Somnath Temple, Gujarat: Timings, History, Architecture & Location

Somnath Temple, Gujarat: Timings, History, Architecture & Location

The sun-kissed shores of Arabian Sea are blessed with the healing grace of Lord Shiva. The Somnath Temple in Gujarat stands as a majestic symbol of faith and divinity. Every year devotees visit Somnath temple, they bow down to Lord Shiva for blessings. It is believed to be the first of 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in the country. The sacred Somnath Temple is steeped in legends.

It is said that the moon god originally built this temple with gold to get the blessings of Lord Shiva. However, time and fate are relentless sculptors, the sacred temple of Somnath met its demise only to rise from the great devotion of king Ravana with silver. Again it met its demise to be reconstructed by Lord Krishna by wood. Read this blog to know all the important details about the Somnath Temple of Gujarat and plan your trip to experience the boundless grace of Lord Shiva. 

Location and the Best Time to Travel Somnath Temple:

Somnath Temple Timings for Soul- Pleasing Darshan:

History of Somnath Temple: 

In the timeless sands of Gujarat’s coastline, the legendary Somnath Temple stands in pride carrying the never ending testament of devotion. It has one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. 
It is said that from ancient times, the Somnath Temple has been revered as a pilgrimage site. Since ancient times, invaders and conquerors sought to test its enduring spirit. In the 11th century, Mahmud Ghazni left the temple shattered but still the temple never lost its charm and resilience. It rose again by kings and rulers who understood its sanctity and significance.

After that many more invaders like Alauddin Khilji, Zafar Khan etc. destroyed it but it still stood as the undying spirit of devotion of the devotees nourished it. In the modern era, the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel breathed life into its ancient structure. The Somnath Trust was born and the temple stood again in pride as a symbol of India’s spiritual unity and strength. The history of Somnath Temple is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Indian people. 

Architecture of Somnath Temple: 

The architecture of Somnath Temple will blow your heart away. It showcases the legacy of Chalukya style of architecture. The striking shikhara of this temple is 50 m tall. The Garbhagriha of this temple is connected to the entrance hall (Mukha Mandapa) which opens to the east in reverence to the rising Sun. At present the temple has an awe-inspiring Kailash Maha Meru Prasad Form. The temple is intricately carved and has 212 beautiful relief panels that narrate the tales of gods. 

Fascinating Facts about the Somnath Temple:

•  It is said that the Shivlinga of the Somnath Temple have hidden the legendary philosopher's Stone (Syamantak Mani). The mystical stone has the ability to produce gold and could generate a magnetic field around itself, which enables it to levitate above the ground. 
• Some historians say that Somnath has been located at the confluence of three rivers- Kapila, Hiran and mythical Saraswati. This holy meeting point was also known as Triveni Sangam. It is believed to be a place where the moon god, Soma bathed to regain his radiance. From ancient times, Somnath Temple has been a pilgrimage place 
•  The temple’s genesis traces back to the divine craftsmanship of moon god who initially built Somnath Temple with gold. Later the King of Lanka Ravana rebuilt the temple with silver and after a decade Lord Krishna with its divine touch reconstructed the temple from fragrant sandalwood. 
• Recounted by a Hindu Scholar Swami Gajanand Saraswati, the Somnath Temple was built 7,99,25,105 years ago. This information is mentioned in the ancient verse of Prabhas Khand of Skanda Purana. 
•  The Somnath Temple endured destruction at the hands of Mahmud Ghazni in 1024, the armies of Khilji in 1296, Muzaffar Shah in 1375, Mahmud Begada in 1451 and Aurangzeb in 1665. 
• According to Skanda Purana, the name of the Somnath Temple is destined to change with each cycle of cosmic renewal. After this world, a new world will be formed by Lord Brahma. Somnath Temple will get the name of Prannath Temple. 
•  In the Prabhas Khand of Skanda Purana, it is mentioned that, in response to Pravati’s inquiry, Lord Shiva said that the temple of Somnath has borne its name 8 times thus far.  
• You will be amazed to know that there is no land directly from Somnath seashore to Antarctica. There is an ancient inscription in Sanskrit which is written on an Arrow Pillar known as Baan Sthambh, erected on the sea protection wall at Somnath Temple states that it’s the northernmost point of land from North Pole to South Pole. 

How to Reach Somnath Temple: 

Somnath Temple Route Distance from Major Cities:

 
The distance of Somnath Temple depends on the individual's starting point and road conditions. Here is an approximate route distance of Somnath Temple from Major Cities 

•    Delhi to Somnath - Approximately 1250 km 

Route - Delhi -> Jaipur -> Udaipur -> Ahmedabad -> Rajkot -> Somnath

•    Mumbai to Somnath - Approximately 820 km 

Route - Mumbai -> Vapi -> Surat -> Vadodara -> Ahmedabad -> Rajkot -> Somnath

•    Chennai to Somnath - Approximately 1800 km 

Route- Chennai -> Bangalore -> Pune -> Mumbai -> Surat -> Vadodara -> Ahmedabad -> Rajkot -> Somnath

•     Kolkata to Somnath - Approximately 2434 km 

Route- Kolkata -> Bhubaneswar -> Raipur -> Nagpur -> Indore -> Vadodara -> Ahmedabad -> Rajkot -> Somnath

•     Bangalore to Somnath- Approximately 1857 km 

Route-  Bangalore -> Pune -> Mumbai -> Surat -> Vadodara -> Ahmedabad -> Rajkot -> Somnath

The rich history of Somnath Temple and eternal spiritualism is one of the remarkable symbols of resoluteness & faith. Being one of the renowned historical landmarks, it evokes feelings of honorable and graceful reflection towards the timeless heritage of India. We hope that this blog will help you in planning your sacred trip to Somnath Temple in India. If You have any query, feel free to ask us in the comment section. 

FAQ 

1.    Is photography allowed in Somnath Temple? 
No photography is strictly prohibited in the temple 

2.    Is it allowed to carry any kind of electronic gadgets in the temple apart from cameras? 
Yes, electronic gadgets of any kind such as Mobile, smart phone, laptop, tablets, calculators etc. are not allowed in the temple premises. You can keep all these things in the cloakroom lockers available in the temple. 

3.    Do we need to pay any entry fees to enter Somnath Temple? 
No, the entry to Somnath Temple is Free. There is no need to pay any entry fee.